It isn't easy writing this. It hurts so much. I'd ferret-sat for my girlfriend several times this year, and a few weeks ago she'd decided that she was no longer able to give her old guy Al the care he deserved. So I became Daddy to a blind, 11-year old ferret. It turned out that he ahd problems that she hadn't suspected, such as a possible tummy hurt and a heart problem; there were signs of insulinoma as well. When he came here, he was thin and undernourished, but he was still eating - not enough, but he was eating. I wanted to help him get better, but I'm in a bad financial situation right now so I couldn't afford much vet work. A friend from out of town offered to take Al to her vet to help. Today she came in to town, and the first thing she wanted to do was get some Duck Soup down him. He didn't like this one bit, and he fought her, but she got 9cc's in his tummy. It must have been too much for his ailing heart, because he gave out a squawk and left. He's now at rest in my back yard. No more pain. I've never had to deal with an ailing fuzzy before, and I'm not versed in the ways of Duck Soup or aggressive feeding. I don't know if it would have helped much if I'd taken him to the best ferret vet in Wichita; he probably only had a few more days in any case. But it always hurts when these little ones have to go. And I can't help but think that I've been a poor ferret Daddy. Sandee, keep an eye out for an albino named Al. He never was much of one for raisins, but he lover Ferretone. Tell him his Mommy always loved him, and his Daddy will miss him so much. Paul [Posted in FML issue 3227]